White pollution is an image title for the phenomenon of environmental pollution caused by refractory plastic waste (mostly plastic bags). It refers to the phenomenon that all kinds of living plastic products made of polystyrene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride and other polymer compounds are discarded as solid waste after use, which is difficult to degrade because of littering at will, resulting in serious pollution of the urban environment.

White pollution is a unique environmental pollution in China. A large number of discarded plastic products can be seen everywhere in various public places. They come from nature and are made by human beings, but when they finally belong to nature, they are not easily absorbed by nature, thus affecting the ecological environment of nature. From the perspective of saving resources, plastic products should be recycled as much as possible, because the main source is exhausted oil resources, but the production cost of recycling at this stage is much higher than the direct production cost, which is difficult to do under the current market economy conditions. Facing the increasingly serious problem of white pollution, people hope to find a plastic substitute, which can replace the existing plastic properties without causing white pollution. Degradable plastics came into being. The characteristic of this new functional plastic is that after reaching a certain service life, its chemical structure will degrade obviously under certain environmental conditions, which is harmless or less harmful to the natural environment.

Plastic was first used in agricultural plastic film. It has the advantages of light weight, waterproof, durable, mature production technology and low cost, which has brought great development to agricultural production, and can make crops grow in any season and promote market consumption. According to market statistics, from 1990 to 1995, the output of plastics increased at an annual rate of 8.9%, which has swept the whole earth. It can be called the "white revolution". However, while it provides convenience for people, it also brings people a "white disaster".

China is one of the top ten countries producing and consuming plastic products in the world. 1995, China's plastic output was 5190,000 tons, and imported plastic was nearly 6 million tons. In that year, China's total plastic consumption was about1100000 tons, of which packaging plastics reached 21100000 tons. Most packaging plastics are discarded in the environment in the form of waste films, plastic bags and foamed plastic tableware. These waste plastic packages are scattered in urban areas, scenic tourist areas, water bodies and roads, which not only affect the landscape and cause "visual pollution", but also cause potential harm to the ecological environment because it is difficult to degrade.

According to the present situation and characteristics of "white pollution" in China and summarizing foreign experience, we should take corresponding measures to comprehensively prevent and control "white pollution" from recycling, research and development of substitute products, strengthening management and publicity and education.

(1) Garbage sorting and recycling.

(2) Relying on scientific and technological progress, developing degradable plastics.

(3) Strengthen legislation and management to minimize or control the use of non-degradable plastics in daily necessities. (For example, when shopping, bring an environmental protection bag)

(4) Strengthen publicity and education to improve public environmental awareness.

Let's act together to prevent white pollution, starting with you and me!